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Home News Cases and articles Justice Stevens announces opposition to death penalty Justice Stevens announces opposition to death penalty
Thursday, 17 April 2008
Today in his concurrence in Baze Justice Stevens announced in his concurrence:
In sum, just as Justice White ultimately based his conclusion in Furman on his extensive exposure to countless cases for which death is the authorized penalty,
I have relied on my own experience in reaching the conclusion that the imposition of the death penalty represents the pointless and needless extinction of life with only marginal contributions to any discernible social or public purposes. A penalty with such negligible returns to the State [is] patently excessive and cruel and unusual punishment violative of the Eighth Amendment.
Here's the link to the decision:
http://www.scotusblog.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/07-5439.pdf
http://www.scotusblog.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/07-5439.pdf